Love Nouveau

B.L. Berry

New Adult Contemporary

Nothing could have prepared me for the day he walked into my life… or the day he walked out of it.

I self-destructed.

All that remained was a shell of the girl I once was.

SHATTERED.

And I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.

I am not sure where I should start with my review; this book was truly remarkable. I was so engrossed with this amazing storyline that it left a huge impact on me. You will fall in love with some of the characters and you will hate others but make there is no question that once you start reading this you will be completely drawn in.

Ivy’s is sweet, strong, loyal and independent woman. She is fierce and knows what she wants out of life. She knows that she is not the priority in her family but she doesn’t let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. She does not make excuses for herself and is very open about what she wants. She wasn’t happy in her previous relationship with Matt and because of that she no longer believes in committing to relationships. Ivy has been in Italy for a year studying the history of art. She comes back to the states for her graduation and because her sister Genevieve is getting married. Ivy is not really happy with the idea of having to see her family or having to play maid of honor to a sister that constantly puts her down. Her parents are all about appearances and Genevieve. They were upset that Ivy did not want to become a lawyer or a doctor, and they had no problem showing their disappointment by putting her down constantly about her choice.

“So when do your folks roll into town for the main event?”

“They don’t. My mom emailed me earlier to let me know they aren’t coming up for graduation. Apparently Gen and her fiancé have some wedding crap they’ve roped the whole family into attending. Then she laid it on think about me choosing to be here, at my graduation, and not back in Chicago with them.”

Ivy and her best friend Rachel decide to go out the first night she is back in the States and that’s where she meets Phoenix. You can tell by the authors writing that this is just not any guy. Phoenix and Ivy spend the night talking, he calms her, he holds her attention and for Ivy this is refreshing. Phoenix is not the brooding, tattoo type of guy, his actions will make you fall in love with him. He was thoughtful, a gentlemen, and was very interested in Ivy. What starts as a conversation gradually becomes more. Throughout the story Ivy and Phoenix develope a relationship with meaning, even though they are both miles apart.

“I hate not knowing when I get to see you next, so I bought an iPhone so we can video chat.”

Phoenix is definitely my new BBF. I loved that both he and Ivy spend hours talking on the phone every night and become closer to one another. Let me say that I love that the author did not just base their feelings for one another off sex. The buildup to their relationship was refreshing and so enjoyable to read. Phoenix is not the usual bad boy I normally gravitate towards but I can tell you I will be thinking about him for days to come. Their feelings took time, progressed slowly and it held more meaning for me. I loved how they both really got to know one another before things got intense.

“I want to be with you in every sense of the word. I want to take my time with you. I want you to beg me, possess me. I want you in my hotel room and I don’t want to see the light of day until the entire building knows my name.”

“I’m yours, my body, my soul…. it’s nothing without you. Every last piece of me is yours for the taking.”

The author threw some WTF moments in the story, which left me speechless. I wanted to scream, and cry and reach into my Kindle and throat punch some people. FYI be prepared you will not like the MOTHER, I WARN YOU!!!! The story will teach readers the true meaning of love, family and acceptance. You will love the characters and you’ll want to know more about them. This book has a lot of depth to it. There is a story behind the story that will tug at your heart and completely have you invested. This story is one you don’t want to pass up on.

Silence passes between us and he nudges my elbow with his. Reaching out for my hand again, he delicately traces the inside of my palm where he kissed it yesterday with his fingertip. Goosebumps rise and my body hums with anticipation. I turn to look him in the eye again and he has a charming, yet shy, look on his face.

For the love of all that is holy…lean over and kiss me, already!

“You know … if you’re wondering whether or not I want to,” he pauses for a quick breath and stares at my lips before continuing. “I want to. Or rather, I want you to.”

I can hardly control myself and double over in laughter.

“What?” Phoenix asks, his eyebrows knit together.

“I cannot believe you just said that! You just turned one of my most favorite songs into a cheesy pickup line!”

He chuckles softly and tries to pull me back toward him. “Yeah, you got me. At least now I have confirmation that you have good taste in music.”

Pfft. As if there were ever any doubt. I’m becoming increasingly more aware of how he works. Clearly he has issues making the first move, but once the door is open, the shy guy dissolves.

We stare at each other in silence … staring through each other … his hazel eyes pleading for what we both want to say … for what we both want to do.

For something that has been so easy to do so many times before, I’m surprised by my nervousness.

Then, as if on cue, the world starts moving in slow motion. I watch Phoenix close his eyes and lean toward me, and I swear … I swear I see his lips quiver.

“Ivy…” he whispers. My name tastes of chocolate and caramel from the cupcakes we shared and my heart sighs at the sound of my name rolling off of his tongue.

I lean forward and close the gap between us, running my fingertips down his face and committing his stubble to memory as I slowly part his lips with mine.

I fall into this kiss…

Fall into him…

Fall for him.

This kiss. God, this kiss is deliciously slow like honey. Instantly I can feel it everywhere in my body, blazing in my palm … my chest … my toes. He takes his time, his hands outlining my neck to my shoulders and down to my arms.

I kiss him like I’m starving and I only now realize that I have been hungry for the past twenty-two years, savoring every last bite, committing it to memory for both the present and the afterlife. I take my time memorizing his mouth with my tongue.

The fresh taste of his lips …

The way his arms envelop me, delicate but firm …

The tender moan that rises from the back of his throat

…

I’ve come undone.

Pulling back, I watch him bring his fingertips to his lips in wonder. When his lips struck mine, tiny sparks jumped. Heat flashed. Instant combustion.

With that one kiss, an ember hidden deep inside my soul awakened a sleeping shadow. A kindling in my hollows started a slow burn. The ember becomes light, a twin flame illuminating my heart.

It’s strange to think that something as innocent as pressing one’s lips to another’s can so drastically alter the course of your entire life. But with that single kiss, I know that he is important.

B.L. Berry is many things. A New Adult author. A self-proclaimed music whore. A long-course triathlete. A marketing savant. And a full-time working mom. While there are never enough hours in the day, she does the best she can to get things done and hopes for technological advances in human cloning.

When she’s not hiding behind her computer writing, you can find her spending time with her family or catching up on her favorite TV shows. Rumor has it she’ll sleep when she’s dead.

She is Canadian by birth. Mexican by marriage. Chicagoan by heart. Kansan by choice. Jayhawk purely by common sense.

Residing outside of Kansas City, she lives with her husband, two children and black pug. Each day her family thanks the makers of e-Readers, because without which they would be living amongst stacks and stacks of romance novels. Conversely, each day B.L. Berry thanks the makers of e-Readers for hiding her book-hoarding tendencies.